Frank J. Haynes

Frank J. Haynes
Frank J. Haynes never lived in Oregon, but he took some striking photographs here. Born in Michigan, he was hired by the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1875 at the age of 22 to take pictures along their route from Minnesota to the West Coast.

He opened his first studio in 1876 in Moorhead, Minnesota and moved it to Fargo, North Dakota three years later. In 1884 he obtained leases for 4 acres at both Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, where he opened his first photo shop in 1884. Initially selling stereoviews and boudoir cards, he eventually operated photo shops at all the major locations in Yellowstone, and is best known today as the "Official Park Photographer" at Yellowstone.

In 1895 Haynes opened a small shop in the lobby of the Canyon Hotel, and two years later built a log cabin studio next to the famous Old Faithful geyser. By 1912, his son Jack had even built a working model of Old Faithful that erupted to a height of three feet every minute.

In 1890 Haynes began publishing the "Haynes Guidebook" describing the park, including maps, camping information, history, and photos of the geysers and hot springs. When picture postcards became popular about 1900, he began producing postcard views of Yellowstone, of which hundreds of thousands were sold to tourists over the years.

Frank Haynes retired in 1916 and passed the photo business on to his son Jack. The family continued to operate their Yellowstone photo shops until 1967, when they were sold to Hamilton Stores.

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  1. Cape Horn - 1880s
    As low as $5.00
    A rowboat makes its way along the edge of Cape Horn, on the Washington side of the Columbia River. Learn More
  2. Echo Bay and Falls, Columbia River - 1880s
    As low as $5.00
    This nicely-composed photo was created by Frank J. Haynes, who though based in Dakota Territory, traveled several times to Oregon to create a series of stereoviews. Learn More
  3. Grandpa & Grandma Munra at Bonneville Eating House - 1888
    As low as $5.00
    Katherine and Selkirk Munra were known as Grandma and Grandpa Munra when they ran the Bonneville Eating House, along the tracks of the O R & N near the current site of the Bonneville Dam. Learn More
  4. Multnomah Falls with Timber Bridge (Vignette Version) - c. 1883
    As low as $5.00
    In this view of Multnomah Falls, Haynes uses a vignette style, lightening the perimeter of the photo to accentuate the falls. Learn More
  5. Multnomah Falls with Timber Bridge - c. 1883
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    This image of the log bridge at Multnomah Falls was created about 1883, shortly after it was built. It's the same photo as our item AA0103, but without the vignette shading around the edges. Learn More
  6. Portland from the West Hills - 1890s
    As low as $5.00
    This overview of Portland was published in the 1890s by Frank J. Haynes as Number 1 of a series of magic lantern glass slides of Pacific Northwest subjects. Learn More
  7. Unloading at Portland Harbor - 1880s
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    This unusual (for the 1880s) closeup shows a pretty immaculate sailing ship docked in Portland's harbor. There is more fresh paint here than on many ships of that time. Learn More
  8. Villard Gold Spike Excursion at Multnomah Falls - 1883
    As low as $5.00
    The Villard "Gold Spike" Expedition gathers at Multnomah Falls, 1883. Learn More
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